Journalism Favored to Win 2024 Preakness Stakes

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Journalism Favored to Win 2024 Preakness Stakes \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism is the betting favorite heading into the 2024 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. The colt is listed at 6-5 odds ahead of the 150th running at Pimlico Race Course. Notably absent is Derby winner Sovereignty, who’s skipping the race in favor of the Belmont Stakes.

Quick Looks

Journalism bet down to 6-5 favorite ahead of post time.
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipping Preakness for Belmont.
Bob Baffert seeks record 18th Triple Crown race win.
D. Wayne Lukas eyes 8th Preakness win with American Promise.
150th Preakness Stakes post time is 7:01 p.m. EDT.
Final Preakness at current Pimlico before reconstruction begins.
2025 Preakness to be held at Laurel Park.
Goal Oriented and American Promise round out top contenders.
American Promise finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby.
New Pimlico racetrack expected to open by 2027.

Deep Look

As the sun sets over Baltimore’s iconic Pimlico Race Course, all eyes in the racing world turn to the 2024 Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, now in its 150th running. This year’s race is rich with significance—from a powerful frontrunner in Journalism, to the absence of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, to the looming reconstruction of Pimlico itself.

At the heart of it all is a single question: can Journalism, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, seize the moment and capture a legacy-defining win in one of horse racing’s most celebrated events?

The Favorite: Journalism Poised to Take the Lead

Coming into the race, Journalism was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite, but the betting public wasted no time hammering those odds down to 6-5 just an hour before post time. It’s not hard to see why.

Trained by Eli Rodriguez and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Journalism turned heads with his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, where he displayed tactical speed, a strong closing kick, and maturity beyond his years. Despite being boxed in early, he rallied with precision and finished just behind Sovereignty in a tight, fast-paced finish.

With Sovereignty opting to skip the Preakness, Journalism inherits the top billing—and the pressure that comes with it.

“He’s training like a monster,” Rodriguez said earlier this week. “We’ve been targeting this race, and we love where he’s at mentally and physically.”

If Journalism can win convincingly, he’ll position himself not only as the best of his 3-year-old class but also as a serious threat heading into the Belmont Stakes, where a rematch with Sovereignty may be in the cards.

The Notable Absence: No Sovereignty, No Triple Crown

For many fans, this year’s Preakness lacks the allure of a potential Triple Crown, as Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty won’t be running. His trainer, Bill Mott, and his ownership group decided the two-week turnaround from the Derby to the Preakness would be too taxing for the colt.

“The Belmont is more suited to him—more distance, more time to recover,” Mott said. “It was a tough decision, but the right one.”

While it means no Triple Crown winner in 2024, Sovereignty’s absence opens the door for fresh narratives and new rivalries, with Journalism now stepping into the spotlight.

The Challengers: Goal Oriented and American Promise

Despite the betting confidence in Journalism, the Preakness field is far from a walkover. Two of the sport’s most legendary trainers—Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas—have contenders capable of stealing the show.

Goal Oriented (Trainer: Bob Baffert)

Baffert’s entry, Goal Oriented, has steadily improved this spring and is positioned as the biggest threat to Journalism. Known for peaking his horses at the right time, Baffert is seeking a record-extending 18th win in a Triple Crown race. His fingerprints are all over the Preakness, having trained seven past winners, including Justify and American Pharoah.

“He’s got speed, he’s got heart,” Baffert said. “If the pace sets up right, we’ve got a real shot.”

American Promise (Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas)

Meanwhile, D. Wayne Lukas, the 88-year-old icon of the track, enters with American Promise, who disappointed with a 16th-place finish in the Derby. Still, Lukas is undeterred. A win would tie him with Baffert for the most Preakness victories ever (eight) and add another gem to a Hall of Fame résumé.

“This horse is better than his Derby run,” Lukas told reporters. “He’s built for this shorter distance.”

Other Notables in the Nine-Horse Field

While the top three draw the most attention, other contenders could make noise:

Union Signal: A late-closing longshot with a pedigree built for distance.
Crown Heights: Lightly raced but undefeated in two starts, including a win over older horses.
Tactical Mischief: Front-running style could force the pace early.

These horses bring uncertainty and potential, especially if the pace collapses or if track conditions shift due to weather.

The Track: A Historic Farewell to Old Pimlico

This year’s Preakness is not just about the horses—it’s about the venue itself. Pimlico Race Course, home to the Preakness since 1873, is set to be torn down and completely rebuilt following this year’s event.

The 2025 and 2026 Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park, located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., as construction begins on a $400 million state-of-the-art facility expected to reopen in 2027.

For fans and racing purists, the 150th running of the Preakness is both a celebration and a goodbye to a track that has hosted some of the sport’s most iconic moments—from Secretariat’s jaw-dropping 1973 run to the grueling slugfest between Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in 1989.

“This place is sacred,” said longtime track announcer Dave Rodman. “It’s gritty. It’s old. But it has soul. There’s nothing like the Preakness at Pimlico.”

Preakness Traditions Endure

Even amid change, the traditions of the Preakness remain intact:

The Black-Eyed Susan Blanket will still adorn the winner.
The Woodlawn Vase, arguably the most prestigious trophy in horse racing, will be awarded.
Fans will still sip on Black-Eyed Susan cocktails, wearing bold hats and Maryland-themed attire.

There will be tears, cheers, and a final lap around the infield, marking the end of an era.

What’s at Stake Beyond the Finish Line

For Journalism, a win at Pimlico would mean:

Validation as the best 3-year-old colt in the country.
Momentum heading into the Belmont Stakes showdown.
A potential Eclipse Award path for 3-Year-Old Male of the Year.
A future as a stallion, bolstered by elite race credentials.

For Baffert and Lukas, it’s about legacy, about etching their names even deeper into the sport’s history books. For Pimlico, it’s the last great moment before the bulldozers come.

A Race for History

Whether Journalism delivers on his promise, Goal Oriented steals the spotlight, or a surprise contender shocks the field, one thing is certain: the 150th Preakness Stakes will be remembered.

It’s a rare convergence of talent, tradition, and transformation, where past, present, and future meet in the shadow of a crumbling grandstand.

As post time nears at 7:01 p.m. EDT, the horses take the track not just for a race—but for a place in history.